Karachi court rejects Iqrarul Hassan's bail plea in anti-state content case

Case filed under Sections 9, 10, 20, 24, and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016

KARACHI:

A Karachi court on Thursday rejected Iqrarul Hassan’s bail application in a case involving allegations of harming the state and national integrity by disseminating anti-state content.

The District and Sessions Court East dismissed a petition challenging Hassan's physical remand, with the defence counsel questioning the legality of the proceedings and arguing that the case concerned digital and cyber matters. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered the case against Hassan, who is currently in jail on judicial remand.

Last week, the NCCIA produced Hassan before the judicial magistrate, who granted a four-day physical remand. On October 17, the court extended the physical remand by two days, rejecting an application filed by his lawyers and directed the NCCIA to submit a report at the next hearing.

The case against Hassan, filed under Sections 9, 10, 20, 24, and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, stated that the journalist, "through his personal social media accounts on the platforms X, Instagram and Facebook, is intentionally disseminating false, fabricated, anti-state and defamatory content with the object of instigating the general public against the state, its institutions and its functionaries."

The FIR stated that the content of Hassan's social media posts portrayed the state, its institutions and its functionaries "in a false and distorted manner."

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It also noted that Hassan "represented lawful measures as controversial with the intent to instigate and incite the general public at large against the state and the lawfully constituted authorities."

The FIR stated further, "The accused instigated a substantial following, including the general public, on the aforesaid platforms," adding that the content that he posted was published and broadcast "in an open, publicly accessible manner, without restriction, so as to reach and influence the public at large throughout Pakistan and abroad."

Hassan's wife Farah Iqrar told The Express Tribune on October 12 that a group of unidentified individuals posing as officials of the NCCIA had allegedly taken him away from their residence in Lahore’s Defence C area.

According to Farah, between five and seven people, including women, arrived at the house late on Sunday night, during the intervening hours of Sunday and Monday, and demanded that Hassan come outside. She alleged that the individuals threatened to break down the door if he was not handed over. They subsequently entered the house, forcibly took the journalist from a room, and took him away.

Later, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said that Punjab Police had not arrested Hassan, adding that investigations into the matter were underway and his family would be informed as soon as verified information about his whereabouts became available.

Hours before the reported incident, Hassan had posted a message on X criticising the Pakistan Peoples Party and referring to Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari.